Stevie Van Zandt to jam with Upstage legends at APMFF

Sneak peek of the film 'Just Before the Dawn: Riot. Redemption. Rock 'n' Roll,' a look at the cultural impact of Upstage Club on Asbury Park. The film will debut at the 2017 Asbury Park Music & Film Festival.
Thomas Jones

Van Zandt will join former E Street Band members Vini Lopez, David Sancious and Ernest Carter, along with Southside Johnny Lyon, at the premiere of the new film about the Upstage Club of Asbury Park, “Just Before the Dawn: Riot. Redemption. Rock ‘n’ Roll.” by filmmaker Tom Jones, Friday, April 21 at the Paramount Theatre.

The evening will also feature a panel discussion about the Upstage and an Upstage legends jam, too, which Van Zandt will participate in.

The night will be taped for the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. Jeff Kazee, Chris Plunkett, Sonny Kenn, Ricky DeSarno, Joe Petillo, Richie Blackwell, Paul Whistler, Billy Ryan, Gerry Carboy, Albee Tellone, Tommy LaBella and the Lakehouse Jr. Pros will also participate in the jam.

The Upstage, which was open from 1968 to 1971, was the Cookman Avenue spot where Bruce Springsteen, Lopez, Sancious, Garry Tallent, Danny Federici, Carter, Southside Johnny, Van Zandt and more would emerge from to deliver to the world the Sound of Asbury Park.

Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul will perform two shows as part of the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival, Friday, April 21 at the House of Independents in a concert that will be taped for a January broadcast on public TV’s “Front & Center,” and Saturday, April 22 at the city’s Paramount Theatre.

“Soulfire” is the name of his first new album in nearly two decades and it will be released May 19 on Wicked Cool/Big Machine/UMe. The record is composed of newly recorded versions of Van Zandt classics along with chestnuts and rarities. Tracks include “Love On The Wrong Side of Town” and “I Don’t Want To Go Home.”